THE
HAWKEYE December 2018
Bloomfield Hills High School
Volume VI-Issue II
Photo by Georgia Zimmerman
District addresses hate speech
Community responds to anti-Semitism by KAITLYN LUCKOFF Section Editor On the evening of December 6, community members, staff, and students received an email from Principal Charlie Hollerith regarding our building and district’s vehement denouncement of a recent act of hate. The following morning, the daily announcements featured a similar message, denouncing hate speech and intolerance and emphasizing the importance of inclusivity. “Any time we become made aware of these situations we
investigate, and there’s two pieces to that. One is taking the appropriate disciplinary action and then the other piece is to continue education and to make sure future events do not occur,” said Principal Charlie Hollerith. “Our Student Global Leaders are a big part of equity and inclusion, as they are spreading positive messages about how to become global citizens and to build an inclusive environment here. We continue to train teachers in that area and restorative practices go on in many classrooms. Students have the opportunity to talk about some of these issues and have meaningful dialogue around topics that are not always easy to discuss.” As hate-fueled incidents are occurring more frequently
and are being carried out by younger individuals, many schools across the country have been faced with the dual challenge of both responding to current issues of anti semitism and preventing future ones. Involving community groups and local leaders is one way to achieve both. Our building has been taking advantage of resources such as the Anti-Defamation League and local rabbis to aid with combating issues of hate among students. “The Anti-Defamation League’s Allison Rosenfeld says their data shows a 94% rise in anti-Semitic incidents in K-12 schools. Teaching Tolerance tracks hate in schools based on media reports, and believes there is an increase in incidents of hate and bias
SCHOOL NEWS Student Committee created
Advisory committee allows students to express concerns by HILARY LAM Guest Writer
Principal Charlie Hollerith created a student advisory committee to discuss student perspectives on solutions to problems in the school. “The Student Advisory Committee [is something that] I had been wanting to develop for a while,” said Hollerith. “Part of that was to be able to bring issues to the students to get their best ideas, their best thoughts on these various topics, and also for the students to help inform me about what concerns them the most.” The students in the committee were chosen using various criteria, including leadership
INSIDE: GRANTS AWARDED see page 3
in schools and that the majority of victims in schools were targeted because of their race, ethnicity or ancestry. As schools, we need to pay attention to all incidents of hate,” said district administrator for social emotional learning and educational equity Margaret Schultz. Local rabbis working closely with the district explain the importance of realizing that the issue of hate is not specific to any minority group. “I think that in Bloomfield Hills specifically, the anti-Semitism that we are seeing is not really based on pure hatred. I don’t think that the students of Bloomfield Hills schools are intentionally targeting the Jewish community. I am not sure that it’s really actual hatred that we are fighting,” said
Rabbi Josh Bennett of Temple Israel. “The more that we work as a school district and as a community towards having people get to know one another and [becoming] aware of our similarities and our differences, the better we will be in combating the kind of antibias moments that we have been dealing with in schools right now that should not be there.” Although our building’s use of technology has been remarkable for learning and growth inside the classroom, students intermittently abuse their technology privileges. Having access to social media platforms nearly all day provides an opportunity for students to misuse technology. Often, students do not understand the repercussions
of their actions online, as it is much easier for messages and ideas to be spread throughout the building. “One of the big roles that social media plays is that it allows information to be spread very rapidly. When a video is made, or a message is sent, it can be out to the entire community/world in a matter of minutes. The rapid pace of information can allow a lot of people to be harmed in a short amount of time, even if there was not intention to do so,” said Schultz. “The first thing that schools do is investigate the situation in order to understand what has happened. As an educational institution, our goal is always to help students learn. So, we have to
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Community news Community builds mosaic
training and diversity. “One of the parameters that’s important, especially with our building focus on equity and inclusion, is those that have been through our student Global Leader training,” said Hollerith. “There were a number of students and then from there, it was [checking whether] were there any groups that weren’t represented on the committee.” One member on the committee, junior Eeshika Dadheech, discussed the committee and its goals. “[The committee is] a good way to get the ideas of students and students are also more connected with teachers on a different level,” said Dadheech. “I think it brings different perspectives.” So far, the committee has compiled a list of concerns and problems students have expressed. “The committee is going to take a look at a lot
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INSIDE: SIGNING DAY see page 9
Music mosaic created in memory of former student by NATASHA MEHTA Guest Writer A mosaic constructed by students stands at the entrance of the music wing as a sign of remembrance for Julianne Silverstein Vinik. “It was [made by] students, families, siblings, teachers, and [staff],” said artist Gail Rosenbloom Kaplan, who was recruited to design and construct the mosaic, along with her partner, Dani Katsir. “Whoever was in the building [during the Dessert Concert] was invited to put tiles in.” The mosaic was made as a symbol to remember Julianne Silverstein Vinik, a former member of the Jills. “My daughter, Julianne Silverstein Vinik, died two years ago [on] Thanksgiving,” said Dolores Silverstein, her mother, who donated
INSIDE: CREED 2 REVIEW see insert 15
the mosaic. “She was very outgoing, very bubbly, and very bright. She was just a delightful person… and some of her happiest days were at [Andover, which she graduated from in 1977]; she was a Jill for two years, which in those days was nine bell-ringing females, and our whole family had such pleasure out of that activity.” Many of Silverstein’s family members were “very involved” in the arts program at Andover, including the band and choir. “It just seemed like such a perfect place to put something in her memory,” said Silverstein. “I think it’s magnificent. It’s like the cornerstone of the school when you come in now, it’s just so beautiful. I think it gives a lot of personality to the school.” The mosaic was designed to be a community project with the aid of current students. “[Silverstein] came to me [because] she saw my work at the Detroit Public Library where I work with schools and community mosaics,” Kaplan said. “She was hoping to do a piece in memory of her daughter. The mosaics,
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INSIDE: 12 DAYS OF JENVEY see insert 16
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December News
what
Hate speech (from 1)
in the
Local and world news highlights
“As an educational institution, our goal is always to help students learn. So, we have to look at each incident individually to determine what the discipline will be, and we always try to work with students and families to repair the harm that has been caused.” While work within the school community continues, local leaders also emphasize the important influence of engaging in this work at home. According to Hollerith, family resources have been added to our district’s home page, which includes anti-bias, diversity, and discrimination resources. “I think that education and inclusion and promoting love and tolerance starts at home and in smaller communities. I think that the way we combat it [anti-Semitism] in schools is by providing lots of opportunities for different types of people to get to know each other,” said Rabbi Jen Lader of Temple Israel. “When kids are taught to accept people who are different and their values, they are more likely to get to high school with a truer sense of what it means to be part of a greater community; it is important to them to be part of a whole community as part of who they are. I think this is true with all of our different minority groups and majority groups in Detroit; that makes Detroit so special. To recognize that Detroit in itself is an important place, and we are not in competition with each other for anything.”
Golden Globes Recent Golden Globe nominations have sparked mixed responses across the nation. Many have been disappointed that several films and TV shows such as Paddington 2 and Atlanta were not nominated. However, some of the notable nominations from this years list include Black Panther, Black Klansman, and A Star is Born. FX Network claimed the most nomination of TV Networks and Vice grabbed the most nominations for a movie this year. The awards show will also introduce the Carol Burnett award to honor someone “who has made outstanding contributions to television on or off the screen.” The 76th annual Golden Globes will premiere on January 6, 2019 at 8:00. Sandra Oh and Andy Samberg are set to host the ceremony.
Mosaic (from 1)
What do you think? Which Golden Globe nomination are you excited for?
“I’m excited for Black Panther because it includes a lot of culture and ethnicity. I think we need more of that in movies.” Jennifer Nichols (Senior)
Pictured left: (top) From the Golden Globe nominated film Bohemian Rhapsody. Photo by Business Insider. (middle) The Golden Globes. Photo by Gold Derby. (bottom) Golden Globes awards given to winners. Photo by WTVQ-TV.
Committee (from 1) “The committee is going to take a look at a lot of problems around the school including those with the parking lot, lunches, [and] advisory,” said junior Alan Zhang, another member of the committee. For instance, a recent survey reported that students have mixed opinions about the advisory, especially due to its structure of one advisory class per week. “[A] lot of people have been complaining about advisory and how they don’t think it is the best way to be spending their time in school,” said Dadheech. The committee will work to improve the school community in the months to come. “Hopefully, the committee will bring the school forward and bring together voices of the community, not just the student body, to find solutions,” said Zhang. “I thank the students for giving up their time and wanting to participate on the committee,” said Hollerith. “If there any other students that might be interested, simply email me.”
world?
additional highlights “Yellow Vest” protests continue The uprisings known as the “Yellow Vest Protests” in France have continued into early December. The protest was started by those living in rural France and lower income areas after the French government stated that the fuel tax was to be raised. The vests symbolize signs of economic distress and inequality.
“I’m most excited for A Star is Born because it’s one of my favorite movies.” Scott Spektor (Junior)
Photo by France 24
Photo by ABC News
Photo by Fox News
Snow in the South
Flint Water Trials
A massive snowstorm has swept through the South, mostly affecting areas in North Carolina and Virginia. Since the storm began last week, the area has received around 14 to 15 inches of snow, leaving several schools and offices closed and 1,100 flights canceled. Over 150,000 people across this region are without power as snow continues to fall.
Dr. Eden Wells has been charged by the Attorney General’s office after lying that she knew about pneumonia-causing bacteria infecting water sources in Flint back in 2014. Since then, 12 deaths have occured due to the unsafe drinking water. Wells is one of 6 officials who similar charges. An investigation is still ongoing.
“I’m most excited for Bohemian Rhapsody because it is exciting and fun to watch.” Bailey Snyder (Junior)
Senior named first chair in state orchestra Mosaic hangs by the entrance to the Performing Arts wing. Photo by Georgia Zimmerman
“She was hoping to do a piece in memory of her daughter. The mosaics, because they are made up of little pieces, lend themselves to community-based projects. Because it’s a community piece, we wanted the community to help design. [Students were] asked to make drawings of what they wanted [in the mosaic]. We took the images that were submitted to use.” The mosaic was put together at the Dessert Concert that featured performances from all three music ensembles, including the Jills, in late September. “We were all there to perform, then we all got to lay pieces of the glass into the mosaic, which I thought was pretty symbolic,” said senior Michelle Lee, a current Jills member. “It’s definitely amazing for the Jills to see that, even after this time has passed, we’re still able to maintain this dedication to our sisterhood of choir members. How everyone from the performing arts came together to make this piece for her... I thought that was pretty powerful.”
Debbie Wogaman selected as principal hornist
“[They] are incredibly self disciplined and motivated to do the best that [they] can.” The orchestra will perform at the Michigan Music Conference (MMC) in Grand Rapids in January, where Wogaman will have a solo.
by FALLAN SHERMAN Guest Writer Out of 2,800 students from all over Michigan, senior Debbie Wogaman was chosen as the principal hornist in the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) All-State High School Orchestra. “I had my audition in October of this year,” said Wogaman. “I was in my IB English Class and Mr. Wolf and Mr. Posner came upstairs to tell me [the news]. They were… so excited.” According to Wogaman, “one’s ability to advance in the orchestra each year depends on the audition. Every audition uses only an identification number, with zero reference to the student or school, so advancing requires hard work. The auditions are assessed by an adjudicator and placed in order of quality.” Wogaman has played the french horn for seven years and plans to continue in college. “I’ve been at All-State for the past five years, and was just accepted into the All-State Orchestra last year,” said Wogaman. “I practice every day, and I have had a private teacher who is incredible. I’ve taken lessons with many other teachers, too, which has helped a lot. I’ve also been in a youth orchestra since eighth grade, and I’ve moved up every year. I’m in the top orchestra now.” According to Wogaman’s band director, Alan Posner, Wogaman is “one of the most exceptional musicians he has ever taught.” “[They] study privately and do a lot of work on [their] own and is one of the most serious musicians I have ever taught,” said Posner.
Photo by Michele Wogaman
“[This achievement] is impressive to colleges,” said Wogaman. “I’m particularly excited for this round of all-state because we’re playing the Fire Birds and there a really big horn solo.”
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December news
Construction begins at Square Lake Village at Bloomfield development starts by JAKE FOGEL Section Editor
Mrs. Lauter receives her Distrupting the Canon grant Photo by Georgia Zimmerman
Granting new opportunities Foundation grants awarded by KAITLYN LUCKOFF Section Editor For over four years, foundation grants have given teachers and students the ability to receive funding for additional equipment and supplies to further student learning and growth. Student leadership, for example, has received multiple grants over the years. This year, the tech team has been granted $600 for new technology equipment to advance their video productions. “The new gimbal stabilizer that we are receiving from the Foundation grant will improve the quality of motion shots we are able to take by adding stability,” said executive board tech advisor Ari Singer. Foundation grants are utilized districtwide to enrich students’ education and support new pro-
grams. The use for each grant varies immensely based on the building, teacher, organization, and grade level. “So many of the grants are for supplemental materials or equipment that will enhance learning and inspire students, so it might be enriching materials or programs that align with what they’re doing in class. However, they take it up a level or offer a different perspective so that it’s more challenging or exciting for students,” said Foundation director Cathie Badalamenti. “The high school got four grants. We also awarded a district grant, which is to sponsor the multicultural celebration, and every school will be participating in that. Last year was the first year we had that district-wide, and it was a really phenomenal event. Every school was represented and showing the various heritage of our population.” Specifically, in AP Literature classes, the grant will be used to generate a diverse bookshelf for students to access for out-
Here is your caption. Photo by
side of class reading. AP Literature teacher Liza Lauter explained how she and Rebecca Ossenmacher will employ their grant. “Mrs. Ossenmacher and I applied for a Bloomfield Hills Schools Foundation grant and we were awarded a $1500 grant. Our project was called ‘Disrupting the Canon.’ We are going to build a classroom library of high-interest, contemporary novels and poetry collections that students can use for independent reading in AP Literature,” said Lauter. Each grant awarded serves a vastly different purpose, depending on the course. Science teacher Lindsey Deluca expressed her eagerness for receiving a grant to use in her physics classroom. “I am going to use [the foundation grant] to buy a classroom set of a kit called ‘Touring Tumble’ and it is basically a marble powered computer, so it does not actually use electronics it uses marbles,” said Deluca “It also uses coding so
students are able to take those marbles and the way that they put the parts on the board can make a calculator, so they will learn how computers work on the microscopic level.” In the future, the grant program will be implementing exciting features and changes, including district-wide and building specific grants. “For the past four and a half years, we have been awarding educator grants, which are smaller grants, and these educator grants are targeted at programs in the classroom or a grade level,” said Badalamenti. “We are moving to two more grants. One is the district-wide grant which impacts the entire district, and we are also looking at starting a program called building grants. Annually, a building will tell us what they need that they are not able to fund through their traditional operating budgets that we could help support them. The future of the grant program is really exciting.”
Southfield-based development company REDICO has begun construction on the The Village at Bloomfield, a large scale commercial development being built on Telegraph Road north of Square Lake Road. With construction underway, international companies, including Hampton Inn Suites and Aldi, plan on locating on the property. “I think it’s been an eyesore in the community for a very long time,” said Alex Bieri, who leased the property with REDICO. “[Current developers] are really looking at what the market has wanted, and they’re bringing it to them. I think that we’ve got the right mix there and the right activities. I can’t wait to see this in full operation. We’re most excited to get it open finally.” During this construction period, current tenants, in addition to smaller commercial developments, will make up a large commercial and residential center that will provide the region with additional shopping, dining, residential units, and services. Working with the City of Pontiac, Bloomfield Township has torn down vacant buildings of failed projects on the property and constructed new ones. “Seeing within the last 18 months what has happened (the fencing has come down, the buildings have come down, the trees, the light poles, the buildings are under construction), Aldi intends to open within the month,” said Bloomfield Township Director of the Planning, Building, and Ordinances Department, Patricia Voelker. Although the Village at Bloomfield is a new construction initiative, it is on a property that was home to a failed project, Bloomfield Park. Bieri clarified the difference between the two projects. “[The Village at Bloomfield is] more mixed use,” said Bieri. “Retail has changed over the last 10-15 years when they initially announced [Bloomfield Park]. Everything [but the original parking lot structure] that was built there has been torn down and repurposed. It was a tremendous mistake a decade ago, but fortunately we rectified that situation.” Throughout the development, several businesses have added their names to the Village at Bloomfield project. “We’re going to have four big anchor tenants that we can announce,” said Bieri. “One is Menards. The second is Hampton Inn Suites. The third is Henry Ford, and the fourth is Aldi, the grocery store. We have one other tab. It’s a business user, but I can’t announce it quite yet. And then we’ve got a couple small shop spaces. I was told that by the end of the year, we will announce that last anchor.” While four secure anchors and an upcoming fifth anchor have been confirmed, there are property spaces still available. “One thing to mention is that, in front of the Aldi store, we actually have also approved a commercial center in the front, so there will be some small retail within there,” said Andrea Bibby, deputy director of Voelker’s department. “That could be potentially a sandwich shop, or it could be a cellular service store.” Specifically, the department is looking into adding restaurants to the complex. “Our main focus right now is restaurants. We feel that we need to get a couple more restaurants there and I don’t have any names right now that I can say,” said Bieri. “We’ve had a lot of interest for restaurants right now, but nothing has been finalized yet. And by restaurants, we mean a sub [or sandwich] shop, a nice sit-down restaurant, and then a nice fast-casual restaurant.” Alongside the commercial development of the project, residential units will also dot the back region of the area. “There are 432 apartments that are going to be part of this development, and that’s extraordinary [to add] that many living units into the township,” said Voelker. “We’ve had some single family home subdivisions that have totalled about 100 single family homes over the past three years that we’ve reviewed. But here’s going to be 432 apartments at different levels. They will have a dog park, a pool, a pavilion, and a community center.” As the various projects are underway, residents of Bloomfield Township and surrounding areas can expect some of the projects to reach completion by 2020. “We are just so excited to see it happen for something that was there for so long, that was undeveloped, to now see it come into fruition,” said Bibby. “To watch such big tenants and names come in is really exciting, and I think it’s going to be a really nice addition to the community.”
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December Feature
School hires new assistant principal New assistant principal hopes to use student voices by LAINE LORD Guest Writer David Reed-Nordwall, the new assistant principal, began his position in August. Reed-Nordwall plans to bring a fresh perspective with his many new ideas regarding “student voices being heard.” Reed-Nordwall vocalized the importance of both student voice and leadership. “Student voice is an important part of the work we do,” said Reed-Nordwall. “We believe very strongly that the students we’re working with are leaders. Our philosophy is helping [students] be leaders outside of school, and helping [students] learn to develop and utilize [their] voices.” Students, such as junior Bryce Gutowsky, have been “impressed” by Reed-Nordwall’s plans. “He has big plans to benefit the student body and the community as a whole,” said Gutowsky. “I was really impressed with what [Reed-Nordwall] said he was going to do.” Principal Charlie Hollerith spoke on the contributions Reed-Nordwall has made so far this year. “He is impacting the Bloomfield Hills staff in a number of different ways,” said Hollerith. “One of the things he is taking on is a leadership role in our 11th and 12th grade redesign, as well as helping look at potential redesigns of advisory.” For instance, Reed-Nordwall believes increasing student voice will be useful in the improvement of advisory. “The first thing I did was start walking around and going through advisories. As I was walking around, I was picking up very quickly in conversations in classrooms what people liked and what they didn’t like,” he said. “The very next step that I worked on was getting a survey to the students to get their voice and their opinions. We have collected that, and now we are working together with a group of students and having students [help create] the solution.” Looking to the future, Reed-Nordwall hopes to better the Bloomfield Hills community. “The next step is communicating with people and seeing where we want to be in two years, where we want to be in five years,” said Reed-Nordwall. “[We need to] identify our goals and look at what we need to do to support moving us forward.”
Left to right: School Board Elect Jennifer Cook, School Board Elect Lisa Efros, School Board Member Howard Baron, School Board Vice President Paul Kolin Photo by Paul Kolin
New school board plans for next year School board members plan changes by CAITLIN FINERTY Web Content Manager Following the November 2018 elections, four candidates won the election for the District Board of Education: two new board members, Jennifer Cook and Lisa Efros, and two returning members, Howard Baron and Paul Kolin. Their term starts in January 2019. “Whenever you read the news and hear about bad things that are going on in the world, it occurs to me that often greater societal problems circle back to insufficient education,” said school board member-elect Cook. “I see it as the cornerstone of a prosperous and free society, and this is why I have always wanted to work with education.” With the beginning of a new
school board term and new school board members to begin after the New Year, many new ideas will be at the forefront of these members’ agendas. “I think one of the things I want to focus on is one, getting more community voice and student voice involved in our school board,” said returning member and current board Vice President Kolin. “[Students should] come to some of our committee and board meetings and listen and have active dialogue. I think that is really important down the road.” After every reelection, new school board members integrate ideas from the community into the school board.
“I would like to seriously focus on later start times for high schoolers,” said school board memberelect Efros. “The more research that comes out, the more of a nobrainer it is to me. I think there are gigantic problems: mental health, physical health, focus, stress, anxiety, all of these things that affect teenagers, and this is really unique to older students.” New and returning board members may experience challenges while working together in the first months of the administration, but in the past, no such challenges have been unsolvable. “There are seven people on our school board and you need
“There are seven people on the school board and you need to work cooperatively ”
Howard Baron
BHSD School Board Member
to work cooperatively, not only within the school board, but also with the administration. We have many discussions that occur when we have meetings to make sure that we all understand each other’s perspectives and are looking to do what is ever best for the students in our district and also in the state,” said re-elected board member Howard Baron. A new board means new board members who are excited to work with the school community, according to Efros. “I am excited for a lot. I am excited to make a difference, I am excited to talk about some of the ideas and the things that have been presented to me by people in the community, parents or community members and lots by students,” said Efros. “I am excited to give those ideas a voice and some real, honest consideration.”
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December feature
Seniors start capstone projects
Senior Sammi Trepeck interns with the president of BBYO. Photo by BBYO
Capstone gives seniors internship opportunities by SHELBY JENKINS Staff Writer People line up outside the Capitol building protesting the proposed lame duck legislation. Photo by John Hart
Citizens challenge lame ducks of Congress Congress sees voter backlash to incumbents by KUSHAL SANJEEV Managing Editor With the end of the midterm election, a new political session has erupted. Although this session is no common one, as it is led by the ‘lame ducks’ of Congress as they now push for certain policies in their remaining time in Congress. “A lame-duck session of Congress is when outgoing lawmakers convene to enact policy after an election but before their replacements have been sworn in,” said Mary Blair, President of the Bloomfield Hills Education Association (BHEA). “Any piece of legislation that is passed by Congress needs to be thoroughly researched, studied, analyzed, and given careful consideration. Lame-duck sessions are designed
to push legislation through quickly with speed and efficiency being the priority.” Accompanying the lame-duck session, there are multiple new bills on the floor. “For example, HB 6314 and 6315 would create a new type of school or school district that would be exempt from many of the existing requirements related to curriculum, days and hours, testing, and teacher credentialing. These bills would allow public tax dollars to fund these new schools or districts, even though the state constitution prohibits tax dollars from funding private schools and Michigan voters have overwhelmingly rejected vouchers [like this] in the past,” Blair said. “[Proposals like this] would impact me as a mother, public school teacher, and as a citizen,” said Blair. “My son is only two and a half years old but will attend public school in Michigan and the public schools need to be funded properly. As a public school employee, I care
about the quality of education my students receive and that is based on the resources that are allocated to school districts. As a citizen of this great state, I want all children to have access to high quality public schools, and using public tax dollars for private schools erodes those opportunities and erodes one of the core democratic principles of our country.” The lame-duck session in Michigan has been led by Governor Rick Snyder as he has begun to count his days before Governor-elect Gretchen Whitmer is planned to take over in the coming weeks. Junior Noah Brook added, “Republicans in our state legislature, like Rick Snyder, are working to repeal the majority of the referendums passed in our last election including the legislation of marijuana and the establishment of a nonpartisan election commission. The things that we all voted to pass could be taken away by the people we elected to represent
our interests in the beginning.” As with the progress of the recent election, the passing of all three proposals on the ballot, and every single bill passed this year, the lame-duck session continues to fasttrack any bills the politicians leaving office believe needs priority. This contradicts the general bill procedure of careful consideration and discussion amongst the legislative branch. “Before this election, lameduck sessions have been used to pass things that our officials wanted to do, but often lost track of time and didn’t get to,” Brook said. “I think it’s fine to use it for that, but these major changes our Republican legislature wants to enact should have to wait until the new legislatures are sworn in. These politicians just need to calm down and leave these issues for the new people in charge.”
Seniors have begun work on their Senior Capstone projects, allowing them to participate in internships outside of school. “This is a great opportunity for students,” said class instructor Dan Whitmire. “Most of the time, college students are the ones that have an internship and very few high school students get that opportunity. That in itself is a great resume builder, where they can say they’ve already had a internship in a specific field they want to go into.” The course is a semester-long class and was introduced last school year in 2017. During the first ten weeks of the class, students complete a Virtual Job Shadow, which consists of questions and surveys to help them narrow down their interests and begin to select a possible internship to complete during the semester. “From the survey results, you can choose anything that falls into those categories,” said senior Donovan Brown, who chose to intern at Northwood Chiropractic Clinic. “I chose to help my dad’s business, he’s a chiropractor. I chose that because I felt it would be nice to be able to work with my dad and because I’m interested in medicine and working in that type of field.” “I decided to do for my internship [with] BBYO,” said senior Samantha Trepeck, who heads the Michigan region of BBYO, a movement to get Jewish teens involved in the community. “ When I’m older I want to go into marketing and as president, during this time of my internship, I get to go have different meetings, work with other people, create different promotional tactics to help make our region really successful.”
“You never know when that sponsor that took you on as an intern could help you out down the road.”
Dan Whitmire Capstone Teacher
In addition to the Virtual Job Shadow, both guest speakers and career coaches worked with students to find internships, with some guest speakers taking students on as interns. “Not only the experience, but just networking, you never know when that sponsor that took you on as an intern could help you out down the road,” said Whitmire. “The benefits would be getting that experience within their internship and then creating that network of individuals that they had that experience with.” Next year, the current juniors will have the same opportunity to take the class and take on their own internship during their senior year of high school. “As you’re a senior and you’re leaving to go off the college is important to see what you like and what you don’t,“ said Trepeck. “Getting experience in the real work force is really not just cool but it’s eye opening and it’s really helpful to know what you want to do in college and later in life.” BHHS plans to eventually expand the learning communities that current freshman and sophomores experience into the upper grades. “It’s growing each and every semester,” said Whitmire. “I think the end result of a 12th grade learning community is a capstone program like I have now, where they have a speciality or have some interest within a career field and whatever that interest is, then they go out within that career field and get that experience with an internship.”
Body I
Image Community reflects upon social media’s subliminal messaging Looking beyond the screen Social media impacts self-esteem and body image by SANJU SWAMY Guest Writer Opening her phone and clicking on the familiar pink icon, she is immediately bombarded with images of “miracle” diet teas, “perfect” beach bodies, and meticulously edited pictures of someone else’s life. She wonders, not for the first time, why she doesn’t look like that. Why her pictures never get quite as many “likes” and how she can have that ideal, Instagram-ready life. “Everybody projects a fake image of themselves on social media especially when it comes to their bodies,” said sophomore Bianca Trihenea. “When you see it, [you think] ‘I should look like that, [but] I don’t.’ It’s belittling and [has] emotional and mental [effects].” With the rise of the digital age comes the increased prevalence of social media, a place where professionally edited photos of beach-ready mod-
els stand in for real-life experiences. “The ways in which social media or other forms of media affect body image is incredibly damaging,” said AP psychology teacher, Marlowe B’sheart. “Part of the issue is that it is such constant and pervasive messaging; social media is yet another place where the messaging surrounds the expectation that one needs to have a perfect body.” This pressure can lead to behavioral changes concerning the way people act and present themselves to others. “The way you think you look affects the way you act,” said psychologist and professor Padmaja Nandigama. “A negative aspect of social media is that you are reachable 24/7, and everybody is tempted to look at their phones. This constant access can have significant consequences when it comes to our own identities.”
Both B’sheart and Nandigama agree that part of the solution is to regulate social media use, and to understand that the messaging about bodies portrayed online is not always an accurate portrayal of an individual’s life. B’sheart explained that “social media creates the illusion that there is such a thing as a perfect or ideal body type, which differs greatly from reality.” “The ways in which we expect our bodies to be perfect robs people with any kind of physical disability from claiming those titles of beauty and acknowledging the idea [that their] body is enough just as it is,” said B’sheart. “We need to be looking at the messaging we have and understanding we have about our bodies.” B’sheart suggests how people can begin to address and adjust the current mentality. “Our focus is consistently on what
[we] can do to look good rather than feel good,” she said. “That’s one of the biggest places we need to shift.” According to B’sheart, this entails using social media in moderation and taking note of the messages inundating adolescents on a daily basis. Trihenea tried some of these techniques and found them to “improve her confidence.” “I’ve definitely become more active, not as much for my health, but for a better state of mind and security in my head; so I have more confidence,” said Trihenea. “You have to follow the right people and not really focus [on what you see]. You will realize within yourself that not everybody’s perfect and that most of those images aren’t real.”
Photo by Georgia Zimmerman
By Ben Silberman
8
December SPORTS
Bowling
The 2018 Black Hawk bowling team is off to a good start, as tryouts were in mid November. Their main goal this year is improving their consistency. “We believe we can compete against any school and come out the winning side regardless of the challenge,” said Senior Derek Terner. “We just have to work on consistently performing at a high level and making sure to do stuff such as picking up our spares and adjusting to the different lane conditions at the matches.”
0W-1L
Boys basketball Basketball season is back! The Black Hawks faced off against the Grosse Pointe South Blue Devils in the home opener in November and the Avondale Yellow Jackets in early December to begin the season. The stage was set, and the Black Hawks showed up, having won both games. Against Grosse Pointe South, the Black Hawks barely slipped by winning 55-54, and beat Avondale 48-35 to move to 2-0 on the young season. “Energy in the locker room was great, we were excited to get a W, but there is much more work to do as well,” said Head Coach Phil Kurajian. “My expectation is that we continue to get better every single day, take pride in the little things, and we will compete!”
Photo by: Susan Adams
2W-3L
Photo by: Ethan Polselli
Black Hawk Sports Update Black Hawks kick off the snowy season with back to back wins
Skiing
The varsity ski team prepares for a victorious season as they train in practice. Junior and captain of the girls’ team, Erin DiMarzo, says, “We’ve been training for about two to three weeks now, and … we’ve been doing a lot of free skiing and drills and have been working with our new assistant coach, Phil, a coach for a club team called ‘pinnacle.’” Although they are experiencing a minor setback as several of their teammates previously on varsity have left, they are still confident that success is in the near future. “We lost 5 of our varsity girls,” DiMarzo says, “but I hope that we’ll be competitive throughout the season and do well in our regional, given that we have a lot of young talent this year.”
BOYS Swim/Dive
Coached by first year head coach Kyle Larson, the boys swim and dive team has flourished. “We won our first meet in 4 years by beating West Bloomfield. Our divers swept their dive team” said sophomore Sam Wander. “I think we will win most of our seven this year and hopefully place high in the league meet at the end of the season.” With so much success so early into the season, things are looking up for the boys Swim and Dive team.
Photo courtesy of Bloomfield Hills Ski Team
2W-0L
Photo by: Susan Adams
Girls Basketball The varsity girls basketball team kicked off their season with a win at home versus Rochester Adams, 46-39. The team is now led by senior captains Grace Getz and Maryam Hashim. Currently, the team is ranked third in the OAA Red Conference and sixth in Oakland County. “This year, we hope to go further in the playoffs than any of our past seasons,” said junior and varsity player Lexy Lynch. “We have a lot of younger players, but everyone works extremely hard, making everyone get so much better in a very short amount of time.”
Photo by: Susan Adams
1W-1L
Girls hockey After a 2-1 start on the season, the girls varsity hockey team is ready to compete and hungry to win. “The team this year has a lot of potential,” said senior captain Sydney Crawford. “We have some great new girls and our returning players have worked hard to improve in preparation for this season.” Bonding and comradery have played a huge role in the team’s early success, which Crawford hopes will continue all throughout the season. “We’re focused on our goals and we’re a close-knit group,” Crawford said.
2W-1T-1L
Photo by: Sarah Sander
Figure Skating
The figure skating season is starting again and the team just completed an event on December fourth. According to junior Regan Lee, “the team finished in first in two categories and second in two categories out of the eight total figure skating categories.” The team is expecting to win a lot according to senior varsity captain Emma Ramsey. “I think our team will be really good this year. We are strong at what we do and I think our team will end up winning a lot,” said Ramsey. Photo by: Paul Kolin
1W-0L
9
December SPORTS
The season of giving
Hockey team does community service with Hope Against Trafficking. Photo by Glenn Joseph
Boys hockey teams join forces to help the community by JONAH STONE Staff Writer
Andrew Zhang, Mikaela Schulz, and Tia Mukherjee sign their college letters. Photo by Bloomfield Hills Schools
Signed, sealed, delivered Three seniors commit to D1 schools by BEN MUTZ Staff Writer
Student athletes Andrew Zhang, Mikaela Schulz, and Tia Mukherjee officially signed their letters of intent to their respective colleges. “I received the call when I was waiting for a doctors appointment, and I had no clue I was going to be offered a spot on the golf team. I knew the call was an important one, but based on the level of skill of the other recruited players at the time, I was unsure if I would be offered a position on the team,” said Schulz, who commited to the University of Michigan. “When the coach told me they had a spot available for me, I was beyond excited and could not stop smiling. I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to play at such a top-notch BIG 10 school for coaches that I really admire
and respect.” The trio of seniors committed to Division I universities: Zhang to Duke University for tennis, Schulz to the University of Michigan for golf, and Mukherjee to Michigan State University for tennis. “When I received the offer from Michigan State, I was very happy. A couple years ago when my brother, who goes there right now and is on the men’s tennis team, was going through the recruiting process, I was able to see how things ran on the campus and how the tennis team worked,” said Mukherjee. “From all that, I already wanted to go there. So when I got an offer myself, I was thrilled.”
According to Schulz, the University of Michigan is her “dream school.” “Growing up I had always been a Michigan fan, but as I grew older I learned how amazing the University of Michigan really is,” said Schulz. “The school provides amazing opportunities for me to grow both as an athlete and as a student. There is no other university where I would rather further my education and golfing career.” Zhang “could not stop smiling” when he first received the offer from Duke and is “excited to see what the next four years have in store.” “The feeling is incredible. I have been playing for the majority of my life and to know that it all has paid off is
“There is no other school where I would rather further my education and golfing career.”
Mikaela Schulz Golfer
a really good feeling. For sure it gives me confidence,” said Zhang. “It takes a lot of the pressure off both trying to find a college to go to as well as big tournaments. It has given me a ton of confidence going into tournaments because I play with no pressure, knowing that a college wants me to play for them.” Zhang is “thankful” for the preparation given to him from his school. “BHHS has played a huge role in my collegiate journey because the school has taught me so many important life lessons like discipline, sacrifice, and how to handle adversity,” said Zhang. “I will definitely be taking these lessons to college and for the rest of my life.” Zhang plans to bring his “work ethic and positive energy” to Duke. “I’d like to think that I am an extremely hard worker both on and off the court,” said Zhang. “I really think that a lot of people there can feed of my positive energy to make the school a better place.”
Justin Gallegos: the Nike journey to success A man with cerebral palsy makes history by KAITLYN KEELE Guest Writer Nike has been credited with changing history with their new athletic sponsorships every year by giving inspiration to the younger generations to live healthy and productive lives. However, one man, University of Oregon junior Justin Gallegos, has changed history for the company by being the first runner with cerebral palsy to be sponsored by Nike. Gallegos, in his twenties, is a runner who suffers from cerebral palsy, a medical condition that affects body movement and muscle coordination. When Gallegos was younger, he used a walker and completed physical therapy in an attempt to regain most of his body movement. Because of this, he was able to gain increased amounts of movement with his body, so much so that he ran in high school when his dad convinced him to try out for the cross country team. Gallegos was finishing practice with the University of Oregon running club with the rest of his teammates when John Douglass, Nike’s Insights Director, met him in early October. There, Douglass offered Gallegos a three-year contract with Nike to be a professional runner and have a sponsorship. “When I first set out running, the goal was never to become a professional athlete or even a college athlete. [It was] to become a stronger person and improve
my quality of life,” Gallegos said. The video that captured Gallegos’s reaction was released on October 6th, which is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day, and revealed that he is the first athlete with cerebral palsy to sign a contract with Nike. Athletes at Bloomfield Hills High School have used Gallegos’s story to push themselves and follow in his footsteps. Freshman cross country runner Grace Jenkins said “He shows that anything is possible if you train really hard for something. He has spread the word about sports and gets people to be more athletic.” Coaches at Bloomfield Hills High School have also used Gallegos’s story as a lesson to teach their athletes. “It’s recognizing that when you think you are giving your all, you watch him
Gallegos reacting to contract with Nike Photo by Elevationom
in the video and you recognize all the pain that he goes through on a daily basis and that once in a while you need to push yourself beyond that pain and understand that by doing that it maximizes your potential,” said Bloomfield Hills cross country head coach David Richardson. Justin Gallegos has used his determination to overcome his challenges to get him to where he is today. “Hard work pays off! Hundreds of miles [of] blood, sweat, and tears have led me here, along with a few permanent scars,” said Gallegos. “I was once a kid in leg braces who could barely put one foot in front of the other! Now, I have signed a three-year contract with Nike Running. Thank you everyone for helping show the world that there is no such thing as a disability.”
The boys varsity and junior varsity hockey teams rallied together to support Hope Against Trafficking, an organization with the goal of creating a support system and housing system for female survivors of sex trafficking. “We did work outside one of the organization’s safe houses,” said Dom Yee, a senior and assistant captain of the varsity hockey team. “A safe house is somewhere for victims of trafficking to get back on their feet and recover mentally and physically. It was long and hard work, but it was super rewarding to be giving back to the community.” Players rolled up their sleeves and did several activities, including digging ditches and placing bricks on a path. Not only did the team do the intended work, but the neighborhood kids began to gather around the team to watch, “effectively making the community service event more hands-on and entertaining,” explained Yee. “When the little kid came to us for help with his broken bike, I think the team started to have a lot more fun,” said Yee. “The kid, who we started calling Mr. Man, was very humorous and was constantly making jokes and really lightened the mood during our service work.” The work was planned for the team not only to help the community, but also “to build camaraderie and boost morale, with hopes of contributing to future success of the team,” according to [grade] and varsity athlete, Colin Segasser. “I think that this project really helped the team start to bond and I am really starting to see the chemistry on the ice,” said Segasser. “It’s off-ice experiences like this that will help the team become more of a family throughout the season”. After completing their work, the team plans to complete more community service events in the future. “It felt great to give back to the community and it was very rewarding seeing the finished project at the end of the day. I cannot wait to help out more in our community,” said Segasser. “Community service is one of the most integral pillars of life, and doing it with your brothers makes it even more beneficial to you.”
New year, new coach Freshman basketball team hires new coach by GABE SINGER Guest Writer A new season of Black Hawk basketball is starting with a different coach leading the freshmen. “I started coaching here in 2006,” said Coach Lee Scott, who will be the new freshman team coach. “Both of my brothers went to Andover, so to try to help my youngest brother possibly get to college to play, I joined the program and starting coaching in 2006.” Coach Lee hopes to build on the team’s nine wins from last season. “The team is great,” said freshman forward Brooks Brissette. “The bond that is happening with each other and how hard we work as a unit is our strength. We have really good chemistry.” With a few practices under their belt, freshman forward Noah Kam is ready to say the team is “going to be a lot more conditioned than the other teams because we run a lot.” “He really forces us to work hard,” said Brissette. “We do a lot of running and we do a lot of defensive work and a lot of fundamentals.” Lee still sees areas for improvement for the team this season. “The team needs to improve on the small things, like being patient, poised, and doing what you’re supposed to be doing even when the lights are off,” said Lee. The players attribute their performance to their “connection” with Coach Lee. “Coach is staying really connected with all of the players,” said Kam. “He’s just a good person. He is fun to be around and he’s also just a good coach.”
10
December op/ed
H STAFF
Adviser Rachel Matz
Addressing
Hate Speech
Print Managing Editors Lara Janosz Jake Weitzman Web Managing Editors Kushal Sanjeev Jenny She Copy Editors Darby Krugel Ali Randel Design Editor Madeline Wein
Photography Manager Georgia Zimmerman Promotional Manager Sadie Kirschner Web Content Manager Caitlin Finerty Senior Writers Brendan Lynn Madeline Moskus Illustrators Hanna Halstead Vikram Lakshmanan Ben Silberman Staff Writers Shelby Jenkins Sarah Kenkel Debra Moraitis Ben Mutz Alexis Rillema Erin Schwartz Ava Singer Sydney Stearns Jonah Stone Guest Writers Sonya Barlow Vansh Bhardwaj Isadora Halsband Isabelle Harber Kaitlyn Keele Hilary Lam Laine Lord Mari Lynn Natasha Mehta Ben Moss Kiersten Pape Jane Rosett Lainie Rubin Jillian Sacksner Marlee Sacksner Seema Shah Fallan Sherman Gabe Singer Sanjuktha Swamy
Dear editor, I am writing to you today to express the love for the Hawkeye on behalf of the entire student body of Bloomfield Hills High School. The staff’s eloquence truly shined through on your latest edition. I can honestly say that my favorite part of the month is walking through the athletic entrance doors before school and personally receiving a fresh copy of the Hawkeye from Jake Weitzman. Nothing goes better with my Java City Hot Chocolate than an insightful movie review and some thought provoking oped.
Editors-in-Chief Riya Doshi Evan Stern
Section Editors Jake Fogel Kaitlyn Luckoff Justin Yaker
Letters to the Editor
What we think
Sincerely, Benny Fellows (12)
Hate has no place in our community Several weeks ago, we, along with fellow members of our community, were informed of an incident of anti-Semitic hate speech stemming from a student and potentially having the power to cause great harm. As our principal wrote in a message, “It was brought to our attention that anti-Semitic hate speech was used by a BHHS 9th grade student and captured on video. This behavior is deplorable and we denounce it. A full investigation is underway and we are working quickly to ensure those harmed by the hate speech receive the support they need.” And although few specific details concerning this act have been made public, it is clear that the magnitude of this matter, whatever it encompasses, has reminded us that our school is in no way immune to the sweeping hate afflicting a myriad of races, religions, and cultures that our world has fallen victim to. As members of The Hawkeye and students at Bloomfield Hills High School, we wholeheartedly condemn this hate speech and advocate
for a future when these types of acts are nonexistent in our school community and greater society. Any time one turns on the news, participates in conversations on social media, or even simply speaks with friends, the omnipresence of hate is obvious. Whether it be hatred of somebody’s beliefs, culture, background, or any other characteristic, any form of hate is entirely intolerable and cannot be accepted on any grounds. We can no longer stand on the sidelines as hatred constantly takes place as far away as the other side of the world and as close as the hallways of our school. We commend administration for illuminating this issue, and now is the time to do more. Hate has absolutely no place in our world, and we can do something about it. We have a voice, and we can create a culture of respect that thrives on accepting all. Ultimately, we must advocate for change, and we must collectively make a difference.
What students think
Dear editor, The article “Student Anxiety and Depression at an all time high” made many good points and brought attention to an important issue. However, I will mention a couple of points that might have missed. To begin, it’s important to touch upon the fact that technology is always going to be present in our lives. I’m sure that everyone is well aware of the fact that teens are only getting more immersed in their cellphones and nobody is there to stop them. Adding onto this, I have many acquaintances that play video games and use that as a coping mechanism to stress. In fact, many students use technology to connect with others. Correlation does not imply causation and I feel as though this article might be missing many other aspects of a young adult’s life, such as family, school, and relationships. We live in a developing world and, although technology is rising, many other factors are also impacting our lives. Sincerely, Maria Yankelevich (10) Dear editor,
“There’s no place for anything of the sorts in our school or anywhere in the world. It’s good that we’re starting to take steps towards removing it.” Charlie Binder (12)
“I am absolutely appalled that someone in our own community could preach such hateful ideologies. It is everyone’s duty to make sure that we all feel safe and included at school.” Anisha Nahta (12)
“I think, that it’s eyeopening and it shows that hate occurs in every school, you can’t hide from it. It’s a reality check to be aware of your surroundings.” Danny Jandali (11)
“It shocks me that something so hateful could happen at a school that promotes diversity. Steps need to be taken to prevent this from reocurring and to make minority students feel safe.” Andres QuirogaElizondo (12)
“I think it’s important that this is being brought to light because acts of discrimination against race, gender, religion happen every day.” Kiersten McCollum (11)
“As a Jewish student, the student’s comments had a particularly profound effect on me. This event serves as a reminder to all of us that hate does exist within our school, and we must consciously work to combat it.” Mara Sabin (12)
I loved your article, Teens get news from Instagram flop accounts. If I look to social media for news, I prefer to turn to Twitter. Instagram tends to reach a much younger audience and as a result is able to provide less information or extremely biased sources. Despite this, I find that it is an extremely valuable environment that gives teens a platform to share their opinion and engage in political discussions! I loved that your article high lighted this platform and provided a variety of perspectives regarding the matter. I look forward to reading more articles relating to teenage voice in political engagement. Sincerely Lexie Finkelstein (11)
We want to hear what you think. Write a 100-200 word letter to the editor and send it to us: hawkeye@bloomfield.org
11
December op/ed
Ending fast fashion Editor discusses need to support ethical brands
by RIYA DOSHI Editor-in-Chief I’m a sucker for a good deal. As someone who feels physical pain when it comes to spending more than $20 on an item of clothing, stores like Forever21 and H&M used to be my haven. I could buy (almost) all the clothes I wanted without having to suffer through the awkward eye contact with my mom between the cashier announcing an absurdly high total and her swiping her credit card. But, as I grew older and more conscious of how brands were able to sustain such low prices, my views shifted. Suddenly, those $15 sweaters were reminders of the unfair treatment of its maker and the environmental toll of fast fashion. We live in a world today where we only care when it is convenient. Sure, we can write post after post about global issues on Facebook, but our voices are only effective when we can back them up with our dollars. We need to take a step back and reevaluate the brands and messages we are supporting with our money. Many fashion-related problems begin with the actual clothing production. While not all brands that manufacture overseas use sweatshops or child labor, there is definitely a high prevalence. Not only do these manufacturing locations have poor working conditions, they severely underpay their workers to be able to maintain low prices. According to The New York Times, the minimum wage for clothing workers in Bangladesh is $68 per month, which is $82 lower than monthly rent alone, without taking other living costs such as food into consideration. Still, many garment factories pay less than minimum wage to their workers. Supporting brands with these unethical practices, including Forever21 and Urban Outfitters, allows them to continue to underpay laborers in developing countries because it keeps their business model afloat. Nevertheless, the consequences of supporting fast fashion don’t stop there. With an increasing amount of clothing output by brands like Zara, an estimated 10,000 new pieces annually, items produced are often focused on being trendy and intended to only last for a few months as opposed to timeless and high-quality. This shift has led to an influx of waste when it comes to the fashion industry. In 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency reported that 10.5 million of the 16 million tons of textiles produced in the United States alone ended up in landfills. This is a staggering rate and the continuous support of fast fashion brands indicate that this statistic is not going to lower any time soon. Among these grim realities are a few rays of hope in the form of ethical and sustainable clothing brands. Ethical brands are those committed to ethically sourced materials and manufacturing and sustainable brands focus on being environmentally friendly. Taking even a few minutes to research your favorite clothing brands to understand their business practices can provide valuable insight about what it is that you are actually supporting. A common misconception is that ethical and sustainable brands are overly expensive, but there are brands at every price level with admirable business practices. Brands such as Able, Alternative Apparel, and Kotn are all dedicated to ethical practices and sustainability and have prices comparable to those of Zara and Urban Outfitters. Additionally, Patagonia is a popular brand that preaches making your clothing last a lifetime, with guides on their website to mending clothing to discourage repurchasing, allowing consumers to make their money stretch. There are also companies such as Rent the Runway which allow people to rent clothing they only plan on wearing once to prevent them from purchasing something and then disposing of it. Even simply buying clothing secondhand from a thrift store or donating items that you no longer want can help to reduce the negative toll of the fashion industry. The next time you go shopping, consider more than just the item of clothing you want to buy. Think about where it’s coming from and where it could go after you dispose of it. If we, as a society, are able to reevaluate who we are supporting with our dollars, we can start to rebuild our planet one piece of clothing at a time.
PRO: Banned is Better Banned books can improve the world for future generations by LARA JANOSZ Managing Editor Let’s be real: the world can be a pretty dark and scary place. The political climate has divided society more than ever before and war rages on in several countries, leaving many children exposed to absurd topics that desensitize them to things like violence, drugs, and sex. According to ChildTrends.org, in 2014, 38% of children ages 17 and younger reported being a witness to violence in their lifetimes. Even just a decade ago, these things weren’t as significant of a problem. Unfortunately, as information becomes more accessible, younger generations are getting their hands on material that they shouldn’t even know about until adulthood. In order to solve this problem, parents, librarians, teachers, and government officials should consider limiting this type of explicit material. Obviously it’s hard to restrict the Internet itself, so why not start with the cause that’s not often thought of: books. Now this might come off as alarming at first. Some books that have been “banned” by some libraries include classics like To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, which highlights the devastating discrimination that occurred in the Southern states in the 1930s, an important historical period in American history that children today should be educated about. Books that teach important historical lessons, like Lee’s, should not be banned. The truth is, reading a book at a young age that highlights the consequences of racism versus reading a book that contains excessive violence or adulterous behavior is not the same. That being said, I’m not saying that all books should be banned. However, it is important to recognize that
a book including scenes about young adults doing drugs or related inappropriate activities should probably not be available to middle school or even high school students. When these things happen, this type of behavior becomes more and more normalized, which can be dangerous for developing minds. For example, studies have shown that exposing kids to excessive violence on TV and video games can cause aggressive and irresponsible behavior. What makes being exposed to adult topics in books any different? In fact, numerous reports by the American Academy of Pediatrics have shown that exposure to explicit material at a young age can have negative psychological effects on the minds of young adults all the way from elementary school to college. The problem lies not only within figuring out which books should be banned, but also where they should not be made available. Obviously, limiting banned books from public and school libraries is the clear solution. Taking away books that include explicit content from these locations not only limits the amount of this information that kids and young adults are exposed to, but also gives parents and guardians more freedom to decide what type of information their children are presented with. So, banned books. In the long run, not only do they protect our kids from explicit material, but they also allow more parents and guardians to decide for themselves what their own kids should and should not be reading. Unless we want to risk more violent and desensitized generations to develop in the future, putting a censor over the things kids should not be hearing about has the potential to create a better, safer, and happier world for us all.
PRO/CON: BANNED BOOKS CON: Books are not contra-banned Banned books can only inhibit societal growth by MADDY MOSKUS Senior Column Writer The only way to break a cycle of wrongdoing is to learn from our mistakes. This is exactly why we must stay educated about the past and its literature in order to keep it from repeating. Censorship eliminates the possibility of learning from our mistakes, and often proves to be futile in its attempts to shelter sensitive content, as access to an internet connection leaves plenty room for kids to explore what younger eyes should not see. It is undeniably better to have sensitive topics covered in a classroom setting through the lens of literature to foster understanding of why the work was written. There are many cases of books being removed from schools, but one of the most prominent is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee on account of racial slurs and violence. The issue with taking a “classic” like this off of shelves is that we stop learning how one of the most stirring pieces of literature impacted a generation. Abraham Lincoln once called Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, “the little woman who wrote the book that made this Great War.” Novels, pamphlets, and essays have started wars, created movements, and drafted legislature. Historically, the pen is mightier than the sword. If knowledge is power, we only become a weaker
society by discouraging the analysis of our past. However, banning books isn’t always on the basis of the country’s violent history. One of the books on high demand for being banned in schools is Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, due to its romanticization of suicide and other sensitive topics. The book is cited as triggering for an impulsive age that is subject to influence, encouraging suicide as a means of revenge or closure. While this is a problem, the solution here is not to take the book off of the shelf. Banning books is the easy way out, but just as in life, the shortcut only makes more work in the end. The real footwork needs to be done by parents and teachers. By inviting students to engage in honest and deep conversation on controversial literature, a more profound understanding of right and wrong is likely to develop. Simply avoiding the problem is never the answer. In a society that insists upon convenience, banning books may seem like the way to go. But, it is better for a class of curious students to discover this literature together than for curious children on their own to pursue these works and get the wrong impression. It’s time for teachers and parents to take a step forward in educating the youth about controversial literature.
Combating climate change Editor reflects upon climate change amid new report
by EVAN STERN Editor-in-Chief We have all heard the phrases “climate change” and “global warming” before. “The world is warming;” “the glaciers are melting;” “the sea levels are rising;” “life will be altered forever.” Whatever your opinion may be in regard to the myriad of beliefs concerning climate change, shortly after Thanksgiving Day several weeks ago, a new report from the U.S. government was released to the public that solidifies, stronger than ever, the past fears of numerous government officials, scientists, and ordinary citizens; the impacts of climate change are real and will surely be devastating to our nation and world. The report (originating from the Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume II: Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States) specifically warns of the grave likelihood of extreme heat, failure of crops, drought, disease, flooding, and other detrimental effects of the warming of our planet, something that this and other reports strongly connect to human activities. With it being clear that we are set to endanger our future as a society both socially and economically, it has never been as evident as now that something, anything, must be done.
“We are the ones that must make a change.”
Evan Stern For years, even decades, we as a society have more or less done nothing. We have put our environment last. Many of us understand that progress needs to occur, but we are neither willing to drive that progress nor accepting of the idea that our current actions could impact us and subsequent generations in the near future. Given that this report maintains that we can still, at this point, after hundreds of years of constant assaults on our environment, brighten the future, I feel that it is our duty to realize the current state of this matter and correct it as much as we are able. Now is the time to recognize that we are the ones that must make a change. While it may seem that there is little we can do, this is far from the truth; clearly, we can engage in thoughtful conversations, promote legislation, and actively be environmentallyfriendly. This complex matter ultimately can be solved in a simple way. If we unite, we can drastically improve this seemingly-dim situation. With trouble on the horizon evident, should we continue on our current path, it is absolutely imperative that we in fact do something, anything. Not only our nation, but our world, needs it, as proof beyond this report affirms. We can no longer be divided about the roots of the global warming we are likely experiencing. It is time that we recognize the frightening evidence that has been presented a number of times and act. Think about all of the beautiful things our pristine environment offers us; we must protect it. We will surely thank ourselves in the future, amid marked progress.
Sleep Deprivation
The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Your Body According to Stanford Medicine, the most recent national poll shows that more than 87% of U.S. high school students get far less than the recommended 8-10 hours of sleep each night. This is concerning for many medical professionals, as research shows that sleep deprivation is a serious threat to students’ health, safety, and academic success. But how exactly does the lack of sleep affect your body? Increased symptoms of depression
Impaired cognition Lack of sleep impairs memory and your ability to process information.
A lack of sleep disrupts neurotransmitters to the brain, which regulates mood.
Higher levels of anxiety
Increased risk of breast cancer
Lack of sleep raises the brain’s anticipatory reactions, increasing overall anxiety levels.
Melatonin decreases when you are exposed to light late at night. A decrease in melatonin disrupts estrogen production, which can lead to breast cancer.
Stroke risk When you sleep 6 hours or less a night, your chance of a stroke increases x4.
Increased risk for heart disease
Increased risk for Diabetes
Blood pressure decreases when you sleep.
Lack of sleep increases cortisol and norepenephrine, both are associated with insulin resistance.
Weight gain Sleep helps balance hormones that can make you feel hungry and full.
Poor balance Lack of sleep can affect your balance and coordination, making you more prone to falls and other physical accidents. Sources: Stanford Medicine, Healthline, Adventist Health
Design by: Jenny She
Table of 4
2018: A Year in Review
8
Staff Columns
5
New Year’s Resolutions
9
Pro/Con: Candy Canes
6
Editorial
10 - 11
7
Comic Crossword
12
Holiday Activities
Holiday Playlist
Contents 13
Starbucks Holiday Cups
17
Holiday Shopping and Gift Guide
14
Holiday Movie Reviews
18
DIY Decorations Staycation Guide
15
Movie Reviews
19
Traveling Charlie
12 Days of Jenvey
20
16
Best Holiday Movies
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Photo Credits: Wallpaper Site, Republic Records, Shutter Stock, Atlantic Records, Cleveland Scene, Imdb, 20th Century Fox, AP Photo, Billboard Magazine, Free Code Camp, YouTube
2018: A year in review by JILLIAN SACKSNER Guest Writer
In the year 2018, we endured a heck of a lot. From movie highlights like Black Panther and Crazy Rich Asians to the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, 2018 was an exciting year. The best films of the year were by far Avengers: Infinity War, Spiderman Homecoming, Incredibles 2, Oceans 8, and, Love Simon. Some of these movies, like Infinity War, broke the box office. There were incredible films that came out this year but let’s not forget about the amazing music that was released throughout the course of the year. Great songs like “Thank U, Next” by Ariana Grande, “I Like it” by Cardi B, “God’s Plan” and “In My Feelings” by Drake, “Better Now” by Post Malone, and “Havana” by Camila Cabello were all hits of this year. All of these songs were amazing to hear the first time and some were brought
together by some even more iconic albums like Sweetener and Scorpion. However, although there were some amazing things to happen during 2018, there were definitely some negatives. The deaths of beloved actors, comedians, writers, singers, rappers, and even former presidents happened during the course of this year. Some of these include Stephen Hawking, Stan Lee, Stephen Hillenburg, former President George H.W. Bush, Aretha Franklin, Mac Miller, Anthony Bourdain, Mark Salling, Avicii, XXXtentacion, and Burt Reynolds. All of these people were beloved by many and remembered for the amazing work and art they put into the world. This was also a year of tragedies with a number of school shootings. There were 23 school shootings in just the first 21 weeks of the year. Events like the shooting in Parkland, Florida sparked huge uproar and spurred the March For Our
Lives movement. Unfortunately, Parkland was just one of many school shootings that happened this year. In spite of these dark times, several inspirational movements grew throughout this year. For example, the Me Too movement created awareness for women who had been abused, and helped them to feel seen and heard and more able to tell their stories. Another huge movement that happened this year was the March For Our Lives. This movement was so impactful for all of the students around the country, and made us feel connected together as we dealt with terrible fear and powerlessness. It brought everyone together to spread national awareness to the subject of school shootings that before this had been left unmentioned by everyone. Pop culture this year ran rampant as usual with insane crazes such as eating Tide Pods (I still don’t get that one).
Some of the more notable things were the Yanni or Laurel controversy, the In My Feelings Challenge, the Zoom Challenge, the Yodelling Walmart Boy, and, most of all, Fortnite. All of these things went viral on social media platforms like Twitter. This year was filled with a ton of weird trends that truly caught on. There was also the Winter Olympics held in South Korea. It feels like so long ago, but the Olympics happened this year. These were extremely exciting because of the incredible athleticism seen at these winter games. All of the amazing athletes coming from all around the world is always and so cool to see. Overall, 2018 has been one heck of a ride and I must say it had its ups and downs. However, I believe that it was truly a fantastic year!
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Mr. Bigham (staff member) Q: What is a resolution you have for this New Year? A: I want to eat more salad. Q: How do you hope this resolution will affect your life? A: Then I will be healthier.
Taylor Wiewiora (senior) Q: What is a resolution you have for this New Year? A: My New Year’s resolutions are to procrastinate less and go to bed earlier. Q: How do you hope this resolution will affect your life? A: Hopefully, I’ll be able to sleep more, which will make feel better during the day, and I’ll have more free time, so I don’t leave all of my homework and projects until last minute.
Gabby Lorincz (sophomore) Q: What is a resolution you have for this New Year? A: My New Year’s resolutions are to eat healthier and use a planner so I stop procrastinating. Q: How do you hope this resolution will affect your life? A: Eating healthier will help me clear my skin and lose weight, and I’m a really bad procrastinator, so I’ll be on top of my assignments more.
Selin Sermet (sophomore) Q: What is a resolution you have for this New Year? A: My New Year’s resolution is to drink more water. Q: How do you hope this resolution will affect your life? A: It will affect my body, because then I’ll be hydrated.
Maddy Hedges (junior) Q: What is a resolution you have for this New Year? A: My New Year’s resolution is to study more. Q: How do you hope this resolution will affect your life? A: It will make me have better grades in class.
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holiday What students think
New Year’s
Resolutions
“I think New Year’s resolutions set a goal for yourself for the year.” Sari Kellman (Junior)
“I think that they are a cool thing to have as a concept, but you can really make a resolution at any time of the year.” Jordan Kridli (Senior)
“I usually like to try and keep mine to see if I can improve. Sometimes I give up, sometimes I keep going on.” Dallas Grant (Senior)
What we think While New Year’s resolutions are exciting, they are ineffective New Year’s resolutions. Everyone has them, and barely anyone follows through with them. Eight percent to be exact, according to a study by NBC. While numbers may say one thing, the opinions of The Hawkeye say another. We, The Hawkeye, agree that although New Year’s resolutions are not effective as those who set them would like them to be, they have been created from the ideas of what could be. Resolutions require more work than people may think. If you desire change, you must be willing to overcome the obstacles that are destined to come up. Perseverance is the key to success; it is difficult, but possible. However, 92 percent of people who create a plan do not complete it and essentially end up exactly where they started. Essentially, New Year’s day serves as a reminder of what people want
to be and acts as an excuse to start “being a better version” of oneself. Truly, the excitement surrounding this movement is one of a kind. People all over the world burst with excitement during this time of year. Resolutionaries view this time of year as an opportunity to be better. While some may view this tradition as overrated and a waste of time, this gives some people hope that change is possible and the time is now. At the end of the day, New Year’s resolutions are capable of changing lives, but few seem to be willing to put in the extra work. The biggest reason why they exist in the first place is the excitement surrounding them. So while they may be thrilling, they will not work.
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Comic by ZAYA BAHRI Illustrator
Crossword
Challenge yourself to the Hawkeye’s Holiday Crossword! by EVAN STERN Editor-in-Chief
The answers to this crossword will be in our next issue!
Here are the answers to our October crossword!
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College football paradise Writer reflects bowl game traditions during the holidays
by JUSTIN YAKER Section Editor
Winter break: a time to forget about school for two weeks, spend time with friends and family, celebrate the holidays, and ring in the new year. Winter break is also the time of the college football postseason. For my family in particular, this two-week long break mainly revolves around catching all the best bowl games. Three years ago, during this same glorious time of the year, Michigan State’s football team had a chance to prove themselves to the world as they faced off against #1-ranked Alabama in the Cotton Bowl. With a win in the Cotton Bowl, the Spartans would earn a chance in the 2015 College Football National Championship. During the prime of bowl game season in 2015, I was in Mexico with my immediate family, aunt, uncle and cousins from Chicago, and grandparents, who are serious Michigan State fans. When you envision Mexico, the sun, the ocean, and tasty tacos come to mind. On
Thursday, December 31st, it could have been snowing for all I cared, because half my family and I refused to budge from the TV. My grandpa, a die-hard Michigan State fan, is not someone I would characterize as relaxed when watching the Spartans play football. On this particular occasion, watching his beloved team get completely shut out by the dominant Alabama squad, he was certainly not in vacation mode. I’m pretty sure it took him the entire week in paradise to recover. This year, from December 15th to January 1st, 80 different college football teams will compete in 40 bowl games. The top teams in the nation will play their games between December 29th and January 1st. As a Michigan fan, I have suffered the pain of their constant successful but not quite accomplished-enough seasons. With the recent four-team college football playoff system implemented, which gives four
teams rather than two a shot at the national title, it feels like playoff or bust as a fan. Although the Wolverines fell short of earning a spot in this year’s playoff, I still feel compelled to watch my team one final time this season in their designated bowl game. At noon on December 29th, #7 ranked Michigan will face off against #10 ranked Florida in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl. Michigan’s game is just an appetizer for this year’s Orange Bowl (#4 Oklahoma vs. #1 Alabama) and Cotton Bowl (#2 Clemson vs. #3 Notre Dame), which are the semi-final games for this year’s national title game. I am quite aware of the status that sports has in my family. A significant sporting event such as bowl season, and more specifically the college football playoff, doesn’t go unnoticed. Rather, it’s a time to be acknowledged and celebrated, even if our teams don’t give us the gift of a victory.
From the Staff Holidays deserve their own moments Writer discusses the need to focus on holidays individually
by LAINIE RUBIN Guest Writer
Celebrating the holidays is such an extravagant and lively time of the year as we get to spend time with family and friends, listen to festive music, eat special foods, and give and receive presents. Sadly, however, I believe these festivities are starting to be celebrated too soon. This winter, it felt as though the holiday season, with its decor, music, and sales, started even earlier than in years past. Although it seems like celebrating early can only bring additional cheer and joy, if these holidays are starting to be celebrated too early, the time they really should take up is not as special and they begin to overshadow other holidays. Personally, when early celebrations take place, it allows me to get excited, but it also takes away from celebrations closely before. For me, Thanksgiving is a holiday that is designated as a time to be thankful and
grateful for the past year, but has turned into an excuse to shop for other holidays (or just snag a great deal). Even though Thanksgiving is not my favorite holiday, I am still able to observe the spirit of the holiday, which is to spend time with family and friends. Now, due to the fact that stores are starting to promote seasonal sales and decorations so early, customers have increased incentive to start shopping earlier. This is a huge time for customers to be shopping, since many holidays fall so close together on the calendar. Although this is great for the stores’ business, it takes away from the other festivities being celebrated. In the last few years, many stores have committed to postponing their Black Friday sales until Friday itself, previously opening their doors late on Thanksgiving Eve (and there-
fore forcing many workers to miss their own holiday celebrations). When stores like Nordstrom made this commitment to their customers and staff, it highlighted this very issue: beginning to celebrate the holidays too soon takes away from both the holidays themselves and the earlier celebrations that become overshadowed. Overall, I believe that each holiday should have its own time to shine, as each is important for its own reason. By focusing on each celebration individually, it allows us to cherish each moment, as we only get to celebrate once a year. I can only imagine how difficult it would be to continue spending this time together if we were also consumed by starting our plans and preparations for the next holiday so far in advance. Let the holiday season be its own season and let’s avoid a HalloGivingChristMukkah
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PRO: Candy canes can by MARLEE SACKSNER Guest Writer
It’s that time of the year. Pull out your ugly sweaters, holiday lights, and of course, candy canes! Everyone loves the holidays, and what better way to spend them than relaxing on the couch with a nice, tasty, and festive red and white candy cane? Candy canes have been around since 1844 and are a treat destined to satisfy your sweet tooth. These iconic mint-fla-
vored, hook-shaped treats are the best. According to Martha Gajanan, for Time magazine, “The U.S. produces at least 1.76 billion candy canes every year and 90% of them are sold in the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas.” Not only can you simply eat them up, you can also use candy canes in a variety of recipes. For example, candy canes can be incorporated into hot cocoa, cakes, brownies, cookies, milkshakes, ice cream, chocolate bark, teas, dessert kabobs, and much more. The addition of the amazing candy
cane adds a nice fresh flavor unique to the holiday season to each of these everyday desserts. One bite of candy cane chocolate bark and you know it’s the holidays. Candy canes have many other often forgotten virtues. For example, they are easy to eat and, if you can resist crunching them, they last a long time. You can eat them in class, while studying at the library, at the movies… the list goes on. Candy canes are the best flavorful treat. No one can resist their perfectly striped, minty appeal. Candy canes also make the perfect holi-
day-themed addition to any present. Their red and white stripes instantly make any holiday gift look just a little bit fancier. When giving a friend or family member a gift, use these confections to your advantage. Make a candy cane bow. Attach one to a box. Slip one inside a box or pocket. No matter where it’s placed, the candy cane will be a hit with any gift recipient. So, the next time you’re at the grocery store, pick up a big box of candy canes, the holiday season’s best treats. Your sweet tooth and your friends will thank you.
PRO/CON:
Candy Canes CON: Candy pains by DEBRA MORAITIS Staff Writer
Candy-canes are among the most problematic holiday treats, possessing little redeeming qualities. Although seasonal candies bring joy and festivity into households across the nation, they have the equally unpleasant potential to cause unnecessary stress and health issues. Most of these glorified breath mints either end up in the trash can half-eaten, or untouched, while they further contribute to our country’s food waste epidemic and simultaneously feed the black-hole that is our consumerist
nature. There are virtually no significant benefits that candy canes will add to your life. In fact, they are more likely to hurt you. Denise Minger from Livestrong explained, “Peppermint candies are a nutritionally poor food, containing high levels of sugar without any vitamins or minerals. Eating three servings of peppermint candy a day -- or nine pieces -- without reducing your intake of other foods would give you a surplus of 180 calories, leading to about a pound of weight gain every three weeks.” She continued to write that despite candy canes being seen as “refreshing,” they in-
crease your risk of getting cavities because of the way that they dissolve in your mouth and their high sugar content. Furthermore, candy-canes are just inconvenient and difficult. The plastic wrapping is nearly impossible to remove. As you wrestle with this, the chances of you cracking the candy cane exponentially increase. At this point, it makes more sense to chew gum or have an Altoid, rather than a crumbly, brittle mess. Now, let’s say that you are superhuman and are able to fully conquer the shrink wrap packaging; how exactly does one properly consume a candy cane? Though
the awkward shape makes it perfect for household decoration, this monstrosity of a desert is nothing but a pain. If you start eating it from the hook, it becomes a sticky, slobbery mess. Even worse, by starting at the opposite, straight end, they become so sharp that it nearly transforms into a safety hazard. If you’re attempting to eat a candy cane, good luck trying to maintain polite conversation at your family holiday party. You’re better off doing so in private with a box of baby wipes handy or, in other words, not at all.
Holiday Fun activities
WINTER WONDERLAND EDSEL & ELEANOR FORD HOUSE Holiday events at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House make for great memories. Soak in the beauty and history on a strolling holiday tour of the house. Outside, warm up around a toasty fire with cocoa and s’mores and see the estate aglow with holiday cheer. Santa will make his annual appearances in Josephine’s Playhouse to hear children’s wish lists. Events occur at various dates throughout December. For more information, visit: www.fordhouse.org/events
Design by: Jenny She
BIG BRIGHT LIGHT SHOW Brighten your holidays with the Big, Bright Light Show. Grab dinner and do some holiday shopping while enjoying the more than 1 million lights covering the buildings of downtown Rochester. They’re lit each evening from 5 p.m. to midnight. The lights will be on from November 19-January 6. The Big, Bright Light Show will be aglow every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in January through the Fire & Ice Festival! For more information, visit: www.downtownrochestermi.com
Sources: VisitDetroit.com, Getty Images, fordhouse.org, downtownrochestermi.com, thehenryford.org, meadowbrookhall.org, detroitzoo.org
HOLIDAY GREENFIELD
Surround yourself with in what USA Today call Christmas experience Strap on a pair of ic shout-out to Santa an reindeer, and nestle i wagon for a sing-along Villag Enhance your experie special dinner package a Supper with Santa a Restau
Holiday Nights will b 30-December 27. For visit: www.theh
NIGHTS D VILLAGE
HOLIDAY WALK MEADOWBROOK HALL
h true holiday spirit lS “one of the Top 10 es” in the country. ce skates, send a nd his magnificent into a horse-drawn g through Greenfield ge. ence by booking a e at Eagle Tavern or at A Taste of History urant.
Stroll through the elegant décor and sparkling lights of the Great Estate and experience the holiday magic of Meadow Brook. Santa will be at his workshop Dec. 21–23 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Photos are welcome, and visits are included with ticket admission.
be from November more information, henryford.org
WILD LIGHTS
Tours will be from 11-4 from November 23December 23 and will tickets are $20 for adults and $7.50 for children. Other family festivities will be available as well!
See the magic of the Detroit Zoo in winter as you take in the holiday lights, the sights and enjoy entertainment and activities for all ages. More than 5 million LED lights illuminate trees, buildings and animal sculptures throughout the front of the zoo. Wild Lights will be from 5:30-9/10 pm on Nov. 17-18, 23-25, 30; Dec. 1-2, 7-9, 14-16, 20-23, 26-31. Online tickets are $11-17. Want to see more? Purchase the Polar Package for $16-22 online, tickets include admission to wild lights and a polar express 4-D experience!
For more information, visit: www.meadowbrookhall.org
For more information, visit: www.detroitzoo.org
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HOLIDAY PLAYLIST The only playlist to satisfy you and your hot cocoa desires this holiday season. This playlist fits days by t fi e, celebrating with family, bundling up with blankets, and making cookies with your best friends. Whatever the case may be, curl up with artists ranging from Tyler, The Creator and Ariana Grande to classics like Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé. 1. Winter Things - Ariana Grande
2. Christmas Time - The Platters
3. Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms
This holiday season, take a break from the classics you’ve heard a hundred times before and indulge in Ariana Grande's “Winter Things.” This song wraps you in the comfort of good company, which makes it the perfect soundtrack to grab your boo and watch “Elf.”
If you weren’t already excited enough for the holidays, “Christmas Time” by The Platters is sure to get you into the spirit. While listening to this tune, you can't help but get into the old time-y festive feel.
“Jingle Bell Rock” is a classic jam that any generation can enjoy. Nothing stirs up the party like Helms’s intro . It’s hard not to get up and dance or sing when the unforgettable chorus plays over a holiday gathering with friends.
4. Frozen - Sabrina Claudio
“Winter Wonderland” by Bing Crosby is a song typical to hear around this time of year. Christmas legend Crosby gifts us a song that is ideal for setting up the Christmas tree, laughing with friends while making cookies, or drinking hot cocoa with that special someone. Whatever the case may be, there’s no better song than “Winter Wonderland” for the background of this holiday season.
Although it’s not a holiday song, “Frozen” by Sabrina Claudio is ironically the warmth that the winter season needs. The slow sway is the Sunday morning sound that begs to be paired with a lazy day, seven blankets a d a fi eplace. 7. Fa La La (feat. Boyz II Men) by Justin Bieber This song is not a traditional song by any means, but sometimes it’s good to switch it up. Nothing spices up a holiday playlist like Justin Bieber and Boyz II Men, and though it may not be for everyone, it’s worth a listen (or maybe a few). 10. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas - Michael Bublé A remake of a popular classic by Perry Como, “It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” by Michael Bublé, gives listeners a new and improved version of a holiday staple. With his soft and smooth voice, Bublé lures us into the comfort of the season.
5. Winter Wonderland - Bing Crosby
8. Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley A classic, “Blue Christmas” by Elvis Presley, makes you want to grab your loved ones and hold them a little tighter. Staying true to its title, the tune adds a twist to the typical upbeat Christmas jingle with a bluesy vibe and rock and roll undertones. 11. Whoville - Tyler, The Creator “Whoville” by Tyler, The Creator features an arrangement of instruments and includes no lyrics, making it great background music for family get togethers or long car rides. Although this song is new, it is sure to pick up popularity with its soothing instrumentals and classic holiday feel.
6. Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt “Santa Baby” by Eartha Kitt is the undeniable Christmas Eve tune for when you’re wrapping gifts, swaying around the kitchen with a glass of… sparkling cider. It’s hard to fi d a song that turns on the mood for good times and even better memories quite like “Santa Baby.” 9. All I Want For Christmas Is You Mariah Carey How could you go the holiday season without at least 83 listens of this bop? “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is the all time sing along song for absolutely anyone. Turn this song on at any party and expect almost everyone to drop what they are doing and jam out. 12. When Gloves Come Off (feat. Ryan Beatty) - Tyler, The Creator “When Gloves intertwines rap music with soulful lyrics giving it a twist on the everyday holiday classic. It’s a sure favorite for any type of music lover.
By Sarah Kenkel, Sta Writer Graphic by Ben Silberman
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Starbucks releases holiday cups
Starbucks announced four holiday-neutral cups for 2018. Photo by Starbucks Coffee
Coffee chain attempts to avoid cup controversy by JANE ROSETT Guest Writer Have you heard the chatter about this season’s Starbucks holiday cup? You probably haven’t because Starbucks avoided creating controversial holiday cup designs. In years past, Starbucks customers have loudly voiced their objections to the Christmas-themed designs on the Starbucks coffee cups. To evade this criticism for 2018, Starbucks omitted designs with holly, snowflakes, stockings, ice skates, reindeer, Christmas trees, lights,
ornaments, and doves from their cups, which have become synonymous with the start of the holiday season. Starbucks made the right choice with their design adjustments because it reflected the global nature of the brand as Starbucks is not limited to the United States nor to customers who celebrate Christmas. The previous holiday cups had many flawed designs because they only portrayed the theme of Christmas and ignored many other religious holidays going on at
the same time, leaving many with reasons to be upset. Still others took issue with more minimal designs ind previous years that eliminated a winter theme altogether, feeling that Starbucks was still missing the mark. With all of these disparate opinions, it would only be appropriate for Starbucks to present universal themes for their annual cups. This year, Starbucks’ four coffee cup designs feature winter themes and patterns, demonstrating the impartiality of the brand. The designs
are sleek and maintain a festive feel while avoiding the alienation of non-Christian customers. Starbucks has done a great job of creating neutral designs this year and satisfying their customers. The absence of criticism from the Starbucks customers this holiday season is a much-needed breath of fresh air considering all of the complaints in years past. The lack of response through social media this year proves that Starbucks made fantastic cups that everyone is able to enjoy.
HAWKEYE reviews
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A cookie-cutter Which Grinch disappointment wins?
A new holiday classic
by MARI LYNN Guest Writer
by SONYA BARLOW Guest Writer
If you enjoy a gingerbread cookie-cutter style film,The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is a perfect holiday treat. Disney takes the classic tale from E.T. A. Hoffmann’s “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” and Tchaikovsky’s 126 year old The Nutcracker ballet, and attempts to add in some Disney Magic. Yet, the 21st century adaptation fails to bring the festive spirit to the holiday season. Directed by Lasse Hallström and Joe Johnson, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms follows Clara (Mackenzie Foy) through her first Christmas without her mother Marie (Anna Madeley). Her only remembrance from her late mother is an egg-shaped music box without a key. With the help of the Nutcracker soldier, Captain Phillip Hoffman (Jayden Fowora-Knight), Clara sets out to find the key and discovers a whimsical parallel world. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms was released before Christmas because Disney knew their retelling of this classic wouldn’t survive the harsh competition of other holiday films. It feels as if this movie was released simply so Disney could claim their own version of The Nutcracker. Ironically, the Disney brand isn’t enough to sell this live-action movie. Disney’s past history with live-action remakes that aren’t from their own recognizable brand haven’t generated success, and The Nutcracker and the Four Realms only continues this streak. The characters in this film lack true character development and relationships that transport the viewer into a fantasy world. The actors have potential, but the feeble script holds them back from an admirable performance. This adaptation feels hollow since the movie steals recognized concepts from other well-established movies. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms clearly aspires to be like Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, as both share a plot where misfits become the savior of a magical parallel world. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms feels underbaked in the oven. This pastry seems average for a film with a steep $130 million budget. Given a little more time, attention, and Disney magic, I believe that this movie could’ve been a confectionary success. Instead, the movie feels underdone in believable acting and is very predictable.
by KIKI PAPE Guest Writer
Generations have shared the classic story of the Grinch. The many versions of the movie tell the story of a critical creature who goes on a mission to steal Christmas, only to have his heart changed by a young girl’s generous holiday spirit. It is a heartwarming story about the meaning of Christmas and the impact of giving back to others. The new movie shows the Grinch and his dog, Max, living inside a cave on Mount Crumpit. His main source of aggravation comes during Christmas time, when his neighbors in Whoville celebrate the holidays. He steals all of their presents and decorations and ruins their Christmases. However, he soon feels bad and returns what he stole. Later, he confesses that his hatred was fueled by being lonely, not by hating Christmas. In every Grinch movie, the Grinch is portrayed as a mean and heartless character. Yet, in this latest version of the Grinch, the Grinch has a different outlook on life. Although the characters are similar, the two most recent Grinch interpretations differ in a few crucial ways. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2018) follows a different story than the 2000 version, which is more like a movie-musical. In the 2000 version, the Grinch (Jim Carrey) has a love interest, Martha May (Christine Baranski), and the story centers on his desire to give Martha a gift in spite of the incessant teasing of his classmates. In the latest version, the Grinch’s backstory does not involve a love interest. Instead, he is left in an orphanage as a child while everyone was celebrating Christmas. Both backstories help to explain the Grinch’s distaste for Christmas while presenting two different storylines. Although both have their merits, the 2000 version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Jim Carrey is the best version because it was the story I grew up with and the one movie that I know best. I think the new movie is a great version for young children, yet anyone who has watched and grown up with the previous films will be focused on comparing the movies, not actually enjoying the new movie. This comparison may lead to disappointment, but ultimately everyone’s hearts will undoubtedly grow with each new interpretation of this classic story.
The Princess Switch is a new, feel-good holiday Netflix original movie that is sure to cheer you up. It is a perfect combination of the Parent Trap and A Christmas Prince. This lighthearted romantic comedy is one of those good, cheesy movies that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. Stacy DeNovo (Vanessa Hudgens), a young woman from Chicago, has her bakery entered into the most prestigious pastry baking competition in the small (fictional) Kingdom of Belgravia. Once there, Stacy meets Lady Margaret Delacourt, Duchess of Montenaro (also played by Vanessa Hudgens), who is the soon-to-be bride of Prince Edward of Belgravia (Sam Palladio). Realizing they look alike, Lady Margaret wants to switch places with Stacy to become a “commoner” for a couple of days, and Stacy reluctantly accepts. Throughout the movie, we see Stacy adapting to court life as she tries to act proper and speak with a British accent like Lady Margaret. Meanwhile, Lady Margaret adapts to “common” life as she tries to act casually and speak American English like Stacy. I especially loved the message of this movie: during the holiday season, it is important to spread love and joy to everyone. This message ties in with the holiday spirit of sharing and giving, while making others smile. It was also delivered perfectly through a charismatic cast making the story extra sweet and enchanting What I believe to be funny are the stereotypes in this movie. I was not surprised at the fact that the British characters were portrayed as proper and elegant, while the Americans were portrayed as completely the opposite. The differences between Americans and British are very well defined, poking fun at the actions of both sides. Pop some popcorn, heat some hot cocoa, and jump into your favorite holiday onesie with your friends and family to watch this jolly good movie. I promise you that this movie will not disappoint.
HAWKEYE reviews
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Creed 2 packs a A beautiful but Fantastic Beasts boring sequel fulfills wishes punch
by ALEXIS RILLEMA Staff Writer
by DARBY KRUGEL Copy Editor
Are you a fan of the Rocky series? The Creed 2 sequel stars Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Creed and Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa. Released in late November, Creed 2, although directed by Steven Caple Jr. instead of Ryan Coogler, does not fail to deliver a dramatic, high-intensity, family-oriented film that makes you want to hit the gym after you are done watching. After watching the original Creed, I was unclear on how they would make the second even better than the first. But, nevertheless, even with a new director, the sequel still managed to pack the same punch. In the sequel, Adonis is named heavyweight champion of the world. He proposes to his longtime girlfriend, Bianca, played by Tessa Thompson. Bianca soon finds out she is pregnant and Adonis begin a new chapter in their life. With all of this going on at home, Creed is challenged to fight Victor Drago (Florian Munteanu), son of Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), who killed Adonis’s father in the ring before Adonis was born. Although many of Adonis’ family and friends advise against this fight because it is dangerous, Adonis decides to take it to avenge his father. He wants to prove the Creed name and get revenge for his father’s death. This becomes the true rift in plot lines between the first and second films. Creed 1 is all about proving that Adonis is not a fake Creed and is not using his father’s name to get to the top while the sequel is all about carrying on the legacy and beating Ivan’s son, Victor. Adonis Creed did not fail to pack just as hard a punch in the second film. I would give this movie 4 stars out of 5, because the plot was too predictable and there was some chunky dialogue. My favorite part of the movie was the actors, specifically Michael B. Jordan because, I mean… Also, I loved the music in each scene. It really hyped up the movie and the viewer. Finally, the directing from each angle is unique, and also how they film the fights with slow motion and all the punches. This story was inspiring, motivating, and definitely made me want to become a boxer in my next life.
I’ll never forget the first time I saw Wreck It-Ralph. I was sitting on a Disney cruise, watching the newest Disney movie on the big screen. This memory made a special place in my heart for Wreck-It Ralph, and when Disney announced they were producing a sequel, Ralph Breaks the Internet, I began counting down the days until I could see it. As the movie released on November 21, and I saw it the next day, expectations were only partially satisfied. The premise of Ralph Breaks the Internet is that Vanellope (Sarah Silverman), one of the two main characters in WreckIt Ralph, is bored with her life inside her video game. Ralph (John C. Reilly), the title character, tries to add excitement for Vanellope, but ends up accidentally breaking her game. The only way to save Vanellope’s home is to venture to the Internet to receive the part to fix the game. Once Ralph and Vanellope make it to the Internet, they must endure obstacles in order to save her game. This plot idea is fine, but the star of Ralph Breaks the Internet is the setting. The way Disney imagined the Internet is incredibly creative and absolutely breathtaking. There are easter eggs (hidden images or secret jokes that aren’t necessary for understanding the movie, but are fun to find) thrown everywhere, several real-world brands pictured, and punny companies made up for the film. Disney’s creativity and attention to detail absolutely shines here as the animation quality of this setting is flawless and the blocky, colorful style is fun and fitting for the movie. While the creativity in the details of this film was excessive, there didn’t seem to be any left over for the plot. The focus on the setting results in the story being shoved into the movie whenever there is a chance. The brunt of the plot and moral is dumped onto viewers during one long scene at the end of the movie, ruining any subtlety or build-up. Overall, I have mixed feelings about Ralph Breaks the Internet. The details and creativity in the visual representation of the Internet was incredible, but the plot fell flat. I would give it 3 out of 5 stars, and recommend any Disney fan with an eye for easter eggs goes to see it.
by VANSH BHARDWAJ Guest Writer Take a step into the wizarding world with J.K. Rowling’s latest film, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. The film serves as an extension to the Harry Potter world while introducing a storyline that caters to multiple audiences and people of all ages. Furthermore, this movie shows the outcome of the dramatic storyline of the first film in the Fantastic Beasts series, while fitting into the Harry Potter series by establishing familiarity and using it in the dramatic world that would follow. As the sequel to the box office success, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, this film fits into the series seamlessly. Set in 1926, main character Newt Scamander, played by Eddie Redmayne, comes to the U.S. with his array of fantastic beasts as a zoologist of magical creatures, ready to explore his ambitions. A key character of the film, Gellert Grindelwald, played by Johnny Depp, serves as the antagonist in this fantasy world, threatening to expose the secret Wizarding World in order to capture the attention of the Muggles, people who do not possess any magical skill. It will be Newt and his former professor, Albus Dumbledore (played by Jude Law), who attempt to maintain the secrets of their special world. With magical spells and beasts sprinkled throughout the film, the special effects portray the inner thoughts of the imagination. Not being an avid Harry Potter series fan did not limit my understanding of the film, which was something that I feared prior to watching. Additionally, I liked how this movie was integrated into the series and even the subtle nods to the familiar Harry Potter characters were a favorite of mine. However, in terms of character development, I disliked the disregard for the characters in the previous film and how they attempted to expand on a new group of characters. In the end, this movie being exceptional or mediocre wouldn’t matter because there is always an expansive audience for this genre and, more specifically, anything in the Harry Potter universe. This highly-anticipated movie lived up to my expectations, although it wasn’t and may never compare to anything in the original Harry Potter series.
16
holiday
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17
HOLIDAY
Spending is tradition
Holiday
Do you like to shop? Somerset Mall decorates atrium for the holiday season. Photo by Georgia Zimmerman
Stores experience shopping influx during the holidays by ISABELLE HARBER Guest Writer The holiday shopping season, from Black Friday to the end of December, is notorious for being a busy time of year and shows no signs of slowing down. Black Friday started back in the 1950s when Philadelphia police officers used the name to describe the Friday after Thanksgiving when shoppers flooded the streets, according to an article from the History channel. Today, the meaning of “Black Friday” is that after a year of operating at a loss, or “in the red,” a business will get “in the black” -- or they’ll make a profit − because people are, in theory, more willing to buy discounted products for the holidays. Junior Cassie Milch said that she is no stranger to these discounts. “I’ve shopped on Black Friday for the past three to four years,” Milch said. “We go shopping mostly at [Somerset Mall], and then whatever we still are looking for, we [buy] that on Cyber Monday.” According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), 174 million people shopped on Black Friday weekend in 2017 and the average per-person spending was $335.47. In addition, the total holiday sales of November and December 2017 totaled $691.9 billion, which was a 5.5% increase from 2016. “Most of the stuff I bought was probably at least half-off,” Milch said. “I spend prob-
ably more than I should, but definitely not as much as some people.” Laura Schmidt, the stockroom supervisor at Athleta Somerset, has worked many Black Fridays. “[The average discount at Athleta is] about 20 [percent off],” Schmidt said. “Everyone’s really excited about the deals. There’s a lot of stock that goes out of [the stockroom] door, and out to the sales floor, and then even more that goes out of the store.” The rest of the holiday shopping season goes by quickly, according to Schmidt. “[The holiday season is] pretty fast-paced. People kind of know what they want, and then we get the few that don’t know what they want and have to guide them to it. It’s crazy, it’s fun, it’s obnoxious, it’s fastpaced,” she said. “Black Friday… kicks off [the holiday season] and you don’t stop moving until December 26th.” In the final weeks before the holidays, more and more people flock to stores, buying last-minute gifts and other items. The NRF reported that about 40% of the season’s sales take place in the 10 days before Christmas. “When it gets really close to Christmas -- the week before -- it gets really hectic because a lot of people really need to get the gifts they want,” said junior Lana Hashimoto, another frequent holiday shopper. People have different opinions about whether or not the holiday shopping craze is worth it to get that special gift for someone you love. Milch believes it’s justifiable. “When you go shopping, you want to find something for people that will make them happy, and if you find that, then it is really worth it,” said Milch.
Yes
Who are you shopping for?
No
Y
Are you creative?
Did you agree on gifts? What type of fan are they? Movie Buff
No
Yes
Acquantiance
Close Friend
Yes
Neither
Get a gift card
Don’t Bother
No What type of creator are you?
Bookworm
Master Chef
DIY Professional
What word describes their personality? Ticket Stub Notebook
Waterless Snow Globe
Peppermint Fudge
Binge Reading Guide
None of these
Fashionista
Nerd Video Games
Sephora PLAY! Bag
The League of Regrettable Superheroes
Alex and Ani Pull Cord Bracelet
Does your friend have holiday spirit?
Athlete
Comic Books
Yes
Water Bottle with Phone Storage
Supscription to Online Gaming
Hot Cocoa Kit
ASPCA Mug
Animal Lover
Neither
What type of person is your friend?
Green Thumb
Get somthing practical like a power bank
Mini Succulent
No
18
Guide to a winter staycation
DIY Decorations
by SEEMA SHAH Guest Writer
Bauble trees are not limited to Christmas; they can always add a little more festivity to your home for any occasion! Materials : - Baubles/ornaments (as many as desired) - Hot glue - Tinsel (any color) - Styrofoam cone Steps : 1) Hot glue baubles onto the cone 2) Fill spaces by hot gluing tinsel 3) Leave to dry for ten minutes
Writer provides ways to spend break for students staying in town by AVA SINGER Staff Writer Going ice skating is a great activity for the family and fantastic exercise. Whether you fall or not, great memories are always made. Amp up your skate by learning cool tricks on the ice! Whether you hold onto the side or show off your skills in the middle of the rink, the memories will last a lifetime. The Detroit Skating Club and Campus Martius are popular local places to go ice skating and both offer yummy food. While family movie night may be a typical activity in your family, a movie marathon over winter staycation is different in many ways. With no homework, no job to worry about and, and anxiety levels plummeting, settle into the couch with some popcorn and catch up on all the movies you have been meaning to watch all year. Check out the back of this issue for a great list of holiday movie ideas! Snowflakes are falling. Winter is calling. And you are at the zoo. Surrounded by colorful lights, the night sky is illuminated by over five million LED lights across sculptures and exhibits. With an admissions fee of $11-17 and free admissions for children younger than two years old, you can walk around the Zoo and experience the spectacular sight alongside your family and friends. Expressing one’s culinary identity can lead to a world of wondrous creativity. Experimenting with holiday flavors allows for exquisite combinations of enriching tastes to help you impress your family and friends. If you prefer an alternative to cooking, you should try building a gingerbread house! The sugary wonderlands capture the creativity of vanilla frosting and colorful candies. The tasty designs you can make are limitless!
HOLIDAY
Peppermint is perfect for winter and these soaps are sure to impress! Materials : - ½ pound of soap base - Peppermint essential oil - Red soap dye - Soap mold (any desired shape) - Microwave safe measuring cup with spout - Toothpick
Steps :
1) Slice the soap base into medium sized cubes 2) Microwave the soap base in the microwave-safe bowl, in 30 second increments 3) Stir in between each 30 seconds of heating 4) Add six to eight drops of essential oil, depending on the oil’s concentration of fragrance, once completely melted 5) Pour the soap into a mold and add a few drops of dye onto the surface of the liquid soap 6) Use a toothpick to swirl it and create a pattern 7) Leave to harden and enjoy! These festive candle holders are great for the holidays or just the winter season! Materials : - Three clear London glass hurricane candle holders (sizes of choice) - Two containers of table salt (depending on sizes of holders) - Fake frosted pine cones (amount of choice) - Three white candles (sizes of choice) Steps : 1) Place one candle in the center of each holder 2) Pour one inch of table salt around the candle and into the holders evenly 3) Add pinecones to around the candle
holiday
Traveling Charlie
19
Participate in the Hawkeye tradition by taking this picture of Mr. Hollerith wherever you go on break. Whether you are laying out in the sun, hitting the slopes, or cozying up on the couch, submit a picture with our esteemed principal. The winner, receiving a special prize, will be chosen by Mr. Hollerith himself. Submit your entry via Twitter (@thehawkeyenews) or Instagram (@bloomfieldhawkeye)
T S BE
HOLIDAY MOVIES Cold winter nights make most people want to do nothing more than stay inside and curl up with a cup of hot chocolate, but what good is that without a proper holiday movie to watch? Here are some of our favorites:
HOME ALONE (1990)
Sources: Posters sourced from theatrical release posters, vecteezy.com, and artist Tim Doyle
ELF (2003)
THE FAMILY STONE (2005)
FROSTY THE SNOWMAN (1969)
DIE HARD (1988)
THE POLAR EXPRESS (2004)
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993)
HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (2000)
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS (1965)
By Ben Silberman